One of my favorite books is Colleen McCullough’s The Thorn Birds. I read it when I was a teenager; and it still haunts me, especially during difficult times. It is, in short, about the pain that can result from great pleasure. It is a natural law, but as humans we are conscious of it and yet still choose to perpetuate it – causing the greatest pain to ourselves. Here is the last paragraph of the book:

The thorn bird with the thorn in its breast, it follows an immutable law; it is driven but it knows not what to impale itself and die singing. At the very instant the thorn enters there is no awareness in it of the dying to come; it simply sings and sings until there is not the life left to utter another note. But we, when we put the thorns in our breasts, we know. We understand. And still we do it. Still we do it…

Why am I writing about this now? Partly from personal circumstances and partly because of the terrible images of the seabirds on the news. The birds are just going about their business being birds, and we keep going about our business of being anything but human. In the end, we hurt ourselves.

comments

hey jess! this is so to the point. the oil spill is so heartbreaking not only for the families along the gulf, but for our ecosystems. thanks for making it even clearer…let’s just hope the world wakes up to its self sabotage before its too late!

The birds are just going about their business being birds, and we keep going about our business of being anything but human. In the end, we hurt ourselves.

Could not have said it better myself! How very sad. And, how very true.

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Jessica Knox

Well hello there! If you have an appetite for great food, optimal health and green living, you're in the right place. This site is about putting a smile on your face with simple, delicious ideas that are good for you and our planet. I’m always eager to hear your feedback, so thanks for sharing the journey with me!